Thinking of ordering this to accompany my other titles on the same fascinating subject. Is it any good? Does it appear to be well researched or is it just enjoyable anecdotal tosh like The Donkeys? All thoughts and opinions most welcome. Cheers JB
I thought it was excellent. It's always hard when one author tries to cover everything in one volume but I think he made a very good show of it. His grammar needs to be better though.
To be quite frank it's one of those books that are all thick and detailed until Summer 1943 (Kursk And All That), and then quickly skims over the rest, that is when the Germans started their long and unstopped retreat and it wasn't fun any more. I gave my copy to a charity long ago.
Za pretty much sums it up. For its time it was a worthwhile read but there are much better books out there about the conflict. I still have my copy though!
So in summary it's fairly comprehensive up to the summer of 1943 and then a bit slim afterwards. I note that nobody has commented with doubts on the book's veracity so for that reason I will pick a copy of it up. In terms of better books about the conflict I would think there are few better than those of Richard Overy and Robert Kershaw. Thanks JB
Agreed with the second paragraph, although by Kershaw I suppose you mean Ian, and by Overy perhaps you mean "Russia's War" Veracity? Yes, but only worth until Stalingrad, after that it's rather hurried as I said to the point of becoming more considerations than history. Certainly not up to the level of the first part. For the other side, perhaps you might like to consider John Erickson's twosome: Road to Stalingrad & Road to Berlin. An "before-Perestroika" work but worth it's weight in platinum.
Thanks Za. I do actually mean Robert Kershaw. A very underrated Historian whose work 'War without Garlands' is well worth a read. War Without Garlands: Operation Barbarossa 1941-1942: Amazon.co.uk: Robert Kershaw: Books Thanks for the Erikson suggestion. I was having a look at them on Amazon earlier. Incidentally, I picked up a copy of Vasily Grossman's A Writer at War yesterday. I'm sure you will agree that in any conflict it is always wisest to study the actions of both sides objectively? Thanks again. JB
Mate at worked offered to loan me his but I passed , I'll stick to the David M Glantz one's I have . I must reread them soon.
Mate at worked offered to loan me his but I passed , I'll stick to the David M Glantz one's I have . I must reread them soon. Have you got the Glantz book on Kursk, Owen? It was a toss up between that one or the Mark Healy book Zitadelle and I could only afford one of them. In the end I chose Healy's book and I wasn't disappointed. Zitadelle: The German Offensive Against the Kursk Salient 4-17 July 1943: Amazon.co.uk: Mark Healy: Books
Have you got the Glantz book on Kursk, Owen? no sorry, only got 3, Barbarossa When Titans Clashed Siege of Leningrad
Another book is Russia at War: 1941-1945 by Alexander Werth. He was a Russian born journalist who emigrated to Britain in 1917 when he was a teenager. He was a correspondent for the Sunday Times and was on the eastern front for almost the entire war. A great read.
Anything by Richard Overy is brilliant. He was my tutor at King's College years ago and he was impressive then. FdeP
Thanks Za. I do actually mean Robert Kershaw. A very underrated Historian whose work 'War without Garlands' is well worth a read. I'm sure you will agree that in any conflict it is always wisest to study the actions of both sides objectively? a) I wasn't aware of Robert Kershaw, thank you! b) It goes without saying that I agree with you
I've read "War without Garlands" by Kershaw and I'd recommend it also. Its a great read about the initial year of the Great Patriotic War.
Gerard Are there any less well known yet easily accessible studies of this conflict that you would recommend?
I've read "War without Garlands" by Kershaw and I'd recommend it also. Its a great read about the initial year of the Great Patriotic War. Third this recommendation. Robert Kershaw Author and Military Analyst Didn't realize he was the same Robert Kershaw who wrote Tank Men too.
Gerard Are there any less well known yet easily accessible studies of this conflict that you would recommend? I'd recommend the following books on the war in the East myself Amazon.com: Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East, 1942-1943 (Modern War Studies) (9780700608768): Joel S. A. Hayward: Books One of the best studies on the failure of the Stalingrad airlift. Amazon.com: Ivan's War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1945 (9780312426521): Catherine Merridale: Books Good social history of the Red Army Amazon.com: Stalin's Reluctant Soldiers: A Social History of the Red Army, 1925-1941 (Modern War Studies) (9780700607723): Roger R. Reese: Books http://www.amazon.com/Why-Stalins-Soldiers-Fought-Effectiveness/dp/0700617760/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324062916&sr=1-1 All Reese's works are great. Also enjoyed Mark Healy's work already mentioned and hearing good things about this book http://www.amazon.com/BLOOD-STEEL-MYTH-II-SS-Panzer-Korps-Prochorowka/dp/0974838942/ref=pd_sim_b_6 Leaping Horseman Books | Specialising in Stalingrad and Eastern Front Publications is an amazing eastern front publisher with some very well written and researched books but the books are pricey
